UW may expand student conduct code to cover off-campus behavior

Updated 10:00 pm, Sunday, January 21, 2007

Student leaders may decide this week to expand the conduct code, hoping to ward off a bill in the Legislature that might hold students accountable to the university for disruptive behavior outside the Seattle campus.

The UW conduct code now applies to students only when they're on campus or involved in university activities and dictates behavior expected of a college student.

Neighbors of the university long have sought to expand the code, citing the loud parties and public drunkenness involving students.

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UW President Mark Emmert formed a committee last year to air neighborhood concerns and develop steps the university and city could take to improve relations with residents. The committee released 10 recommendations last summer, and a group of students, university staff and community members has continued to meet.

But some are seeking further action now.

Student leaders said Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, told them he would introduce legislation to expand the student conduct code unless they addressed the issue soon. He's sponsored legislation in the past that would have required all state universities to adopt rules and sanctions regarding disruptive conduct in nearby neighborhoods, businesses and public places. The proposals have never passed.

UW student body president Cullen White said students want to have a chance to address the issue and not have the Legislature force something on them.

"We want to ensure that all of our rights are protected, but we also want to be on the front lines of solving the issue," he said.

Murray said Friday that he also would rather the students develop their own solution.

"We, the speaker (Rep. Frank Chopp) and I, prefer not to have to use legislation to do what some other colleges and universities in the state have done administratively, but it's gone on for a long time and we've got to make some progress," he said.

Murray said that if he submitted legislation, he likely would add exemptions for freedom of speech so that political activity would not be included under the code. He said that based on conversations he's had with other legislators, he believes it could pass this year.

"I don't think it's a great civics lesson for (students) if that's the way we have to come forward," he said.

The UW has opposed an extension of the conduct code by the Legislature in the past, saying it would be difficult to enforce. Students, who say they are sometimes blamed for the behavior of outsiders who attend parties in the area, also have opposed it, saying it's too broad.

Bryce McKibben, a UW undergraduate who lobbies on behalf of students in Olympia, said a legislative debate on the student conduct code would take away from issues such as tuition and higher education funding.

"We'd much rather continue our conversations about important things to students," he said.

The University Park Community Club, which represents residents living in the neighborhood north of the UW campus, sent Murray a letter last week, saying they were "underwhelmed" by the UW's efforts so far, said community club board member Kent Wills.

"There is some progress, but it's pretty slow," he said.

The North of 45th committee that Emmert formed suggested that the university buy housing in the neighborhood around campus, create a quality housing program to ensure landlords are in compliance with city codes, and hold students accountable for "certain behaviors." But the group could not agree on how to accomplish that last suggestion.

Student leaders this week will consider expanding the conduct code to hold students accountable for "serious offenses" off campus, such as sexual assault or stalking.

That could mean that students could face university discipline, including expulsion, for their conduct off campus.

They also could decide not to change the conduct code and instead fight the issue if it arises in Olympia.

White, who introduced the resolution regarding an expansion of the code, said he hopes students will discuss what it means to affect the quality of life of other people living around them.

While he would like to see the conduct code issue resolved this year, White said he hopes everyone "takes it in stride and works on being better neighbors -- that goes for all parties."